Henry Rifle Forums

This is sort of a continuation of what I started here. http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=297

After my test loads yesterday I found some mild leading right near the breach. Now to figure out why. Yesterday I tested 3 different power levels and loads of the same cartridge, bullet, and powder. The lightest 2 levels showed promise so I loaded 25 more today. All 240 gr LSWCbb with 7.5 gr of unique in 44 mag cases. All cases trimmed and all charges weighed. Based on the Chrono yesterday they are pushing just a tick over 1,ooo fps.

I shot 5 groups of 5 at the county range with my elbows on the bench. 1st target was setting my sight. Of the other 4 "1" was a 3.5" group at 50yds the other 3 were 3". I know both myself and the rifle can do better. But the load shows promise. Each one has a nice string in it. So next step is to go clean the gun and check for leading.








And for what it's worth these loads are quite pleasant to shoot through both rifle and heavy revolver. Just a bit stiffer than a cowboy load.

Neither myself or the forum is responsible if you copy what I'm loading. Your load your risk!

OK then, I checked and I had some light lead fouling. Near the chamber. A few more passes than normal with the brush seemed to take care of it.

This is a whole new ballgame for me dealing with lead. So if you have some knowledge on this feel free to throw it out.

Not as bad as yesterday and I shot twice as many rounds. So I'm thinking I'm headed in the right direction. So I'm going to load 25 more with .5gr less powder and see what happens tomorrow.

Those are still nice groups. You seem to be one the right track.

Was the shooting done in a rifle or revolver?

Squatch wrote:OK then, I checked and I had some light lead fouling. Near the chamber. A few more passes than normal with the brush seemed to take care of it.

This is a whole new ballgame for me dealing with lead. So if you have some knowledge on this feel free to throw it out.

Not as bad as yesterday and I shot twice as many rounds. So I'm thinking I'm headed in the right direction. So I'm going to load 25 more with .5gr less powder and see what happens tomorrow.

Actually, if you're trying to get rid of the leading, you very well may need to increase your powder charge. You are already loading these rounds quite light. Depending on the hardness of your bullets, the light charge of Unique may not be enough to cause the bullet to obturate (or bump up in diameter) to seal in the bore. This can cause hot gasses to blow past the bullet pulling off fragments of lead which remain plastered in the rifling.
Try upping your load a bit. Lyman 4th lists a starting load of 10.0 gns Unique and max of 11.7 using a 240gn RNFP and 13.0 gns Unique using a 245gn LSWC.
Best of luck and congratulations on your choice to start reloading.

Owly thanks for your response. I understand what you are saying and you very well may be right. I have the latest Lyman cast bullet book and it mirrors what you are saying. This test in this thread was shot through my Big Boy. That's what I'm concerned with now.

Not sure if you saw my other post where I did the initial test fire of 3 different loads in both rifle and pistol.
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=297

I only shot 13 rounds through the rifle and had much worse leading. 5 rounds were 10 grs. At that level the groups blew up at 10 grs. I'm using this info.
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm Down the page for my load.
I'm building exactly the same load with different brand bullet. My results closely matched theirs as far speed and group size. I decided to go with less powder this time for 3 reasons.
The big group at 10 grs.
These are called hard cast but the vendor who sold them to me said that 1,200fps was pushing it for these bullets.
And the fact that I had less leading on this test for 25 rds than I did the day before for 13 rds with 5 being 10gr.

I have 25 more loaded to 7 grs. That's 1/2 gr less than this test. If that doesn't clean it up I'll either go up in charge or change bullets. I felt that for speeds much over 1,000fps I'm probably better off with a different powder that Unique such as 2400. I'm also trying to develop a somewhat light load. I have JHP's and H110 for the hot stuff.

Thanks and keep 'em coming. I've got a lot to learn still.

Have you slugged your bore?
With light loads I use a bullet .002 over bore size.
Hope this helps.

Not yet. But I have a friend that's on this forum that's going to hook me up with some soft round ball to do that with. At this point I'm using .430 for lead.

Your bullets are most likely lubed already but if you had some Lee Liquid Alox laying around I would lightly lube up a few of those bullets with it and let it dry and then see if they produce any lead in the bore. But the best suggestions are already posted, slug the bore and see if it's running a bit large for your .430 lead.

Ok I loaded 25 more and went down 1/2gr powder to 7 grs. I got a slight little bit of leading. Not much. No problem for the brush. I can probably live with this load. But I think I'll use the exact same everything but try my Berry's copper plated 240gr RNFP. They are for under 1,200fps.

Same as yesterday. 50 yds, resting elbows on the bench. No chrono but I'm guessing right around 950-1,025 fps.
First 2 were shot with a different front insert. Looks like the stock bead sight. bead mostly covered the target.


all 3" or under from here down


I changed the front sight insert back to my normal small ring.




2" group